Ask area farmers what April showers could bring and they might answer — some May headaches.

Several inches of rain are possible through Friday, adding to the area’s spring soaking that could lead to planting problems in another few weeks.

“It’s all part of farming,” said Bruce MacKellar, field crop educator for the Michigan State University Ottawa County Extension office. “You just have to roll with the punches and do what you can when you can.”

The Holland area has not had a day without rain since April 5, according to reports at the West Michigan Regional Airport. A record 1.60 inches was recorded April 11.

Thunderstorms, high winds, hail and heavy rain are predicted Wednesday and Thursday.

“Early indications are that rainfall of more than 2 inches is possible, but the location of the swath of heavy rain and detailed amounts are far from a certainty yet,” the National Weather Service said on its website on today.

A flood warning continues for the Grand River in Robinson Township.

“In addition to stream and river flooding, the ground can hold little moisture in some areas and can rapidly shed rainfall in the form of flash and small stream flooding,” said meteorologist Alex Sosnowski of AccuWeather.com.

The National Weather Service reminds motorists not to drive around barricades at flooded areas or drive through the water.

So far in April, the Holland area has received 4.52 inches of rain. Normal month-to-date rainfall is 1.44 inches, according to AccuWeather.com.

This bumper crop of rain is not yet a major concern for most area farmers, MacKellar said.

Corn and soy are planted at the end of April through May, so there’s still time for the soil to dry out, he said. Some areas where the soil is sandy, such as the lakeshore in parts of western Allegan County, the drying could happen quickly. In other areas, including Hamilton and inland parts of Ottawa County, the soil is heavier and will take longer to dry.

“It’s just a question of drying it out,” he added.

Along with the moisture, the temperature of the soil is important to planting as well, MacKellar said. The wet soil tends to take longer to warm up.

So far, the weather and rain have been fine for blueberries, according to Carlos Garcia, small fruit educator for the Michigan State University Ottawa County Extension office.

“The plants are still dormant,” he said, so the standing water isn’t a concern yet.

He is expecting a normal blueberry season — “as long as the fields don’t remain under water too long,” he said.

Temperatures in the 80s and standing water could kill the plants due to oxygen depletion.

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The damp soil is better than the drought that struck much of the Midwest last year.

“Many farmers will gladly trade extreme drought all season long with minor flooding problems early in the season,” Sosnowski said.